National Postal Meter made carbines from February 1943 through July 1944. It was made in March of 1943 as part of early first block production. It is from NPM's first block of production and is an excellent example with double bevel housing, early trigger housing pin and type 2 extractor. During production, manufacturers made changes by applying lessons learned during the war. The following carbine is an early example showing some of these changes. It was acquired in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, no other information is known about it. As a reminder to collectors when acquiring original carbines, it never hurts to ask about its history. While we don’t buy stories, we do buy carbines and any information we can learn about them can be preserved and passed on to the next owner. It’s not always possible, but it never hurts to ask.

Receiver

The receiver shows small font serial numbers, common on early National Postal Meter carbines. The National Postal Meter font is lightly stamped.

The receiver ring shows a single period after the “L” in Cal and a serif 1. Looking down on the receiver, note the double proof marks instead of one (1).

Early receivers had a single takedown notch (1). The
mill cut is square (2). Early Slide (3). 22 coil hammer spring (4).

Early receivers had a type 1 lug commonly called the takedown pin notch (1). The shape of the lug is option 1 in the club’s datasheet. The lug’s shape had a purpose. This notch helps in reassembly, as it provides clearance/space for the little bent end of the wire spring (2), as one mates the trigger housing to the receiver. Unless it's completely removed, the type 1 trigger housing pin normally stays with the trigger housing (3). Often this pin, made of spring-steel wire is missing or has been replaced. Later, this pin was dropped. A view of the receiver is shown where it meets the recoil plate. Note the wear marks from the recoil plate (4).

Numbers have been observed on the bottom of the receiver trigger housing lug and occasionally inside. They are probably drawing revision numbers. More information on these numbers can be found in CCNL 125-2. The feed ramp is shown polished. When inspecting a carbine, look in this area to see if the feed ramp is polished. If it is not, it could be a sign of refinishing. Also note the barrel’s long skirt.

Rear Sight

The rear sight is marked RN as is the leaf. The leaf was made by Redfield Gun Sight Co. of Denver Colorado (War Baby doesn’t say if the sight assembly was also made by Redfield). Note the off-center circular stake marks on the sight pin, and the chisel-type stake marks on the left side of the dovetail slot.

Stock

The earliest NPM I cut stocks had a crossed cannons cartouche and the NPM over FJA in a box stamp located above the trigger. They were sometimes called the “move up” stock (See CCNL 104-7 and 275-3). These stocks typically had an L A, OI and ordnance bomb in the sling well showing early lateral support from Inland. This stock shows the NPM markings after they were moved into their normal location, on the right side of the stock about halfway from the oiler cutout.

Stock Markings

Early on in NPM’s production, the NPM over FJA in a box
cartouche was stamped on the right stock of the stock under the rear
sight. Later, it was moved into its later position, mid way on the right
side of the stock. The sling well is stamped TRIMBLE over TN made by
Trimble Nurseryland Furniture Co. of Rochester, N.Y. The nose of the
stock has only one set of crush marks from a T1 band.

Handguard

CCNL 126 describes four examples of very early NPM carbines with 2 rivet, deep groove, OI and flaming bomb marked handguards showing lateral support from Inland. NPM 2 rivet, deep groove handguards were marked TN. One would expect this handguard to be TN marked, but no marking was found. Later in NPM's production, they switched to the shallow groove TN marked handguard.

Side view of type 1 band marks (1). Note their location when checking a stock for originality. Each band type will leave distinctive marks on the stock and in the case of type 3 bands on the barrel. These marks might be hard to spot if attempt have been made to remove them. Approximate locations of the marks left by each band are shown below (2, 3 and 4). The sling and swivel are shown. The swivel is marked UN and made by Union Switch and Signal of Swissvale, Pa. On later NPM carbine swivels, the serif was dropped UN. NPM slings were marked S-N, but the sling on this carbine is unmarked.

The type 2 recoil plate is marked LN and made by Lyman Gun Sight Corp. The escutcheon nut holding the type 1 recoil plate screw is shown from the underside of the stock. The butt plate is the square type.

Trigger Housing

The trigger housing is the earliest production type, called a double bevel.

The trigger housing is marked N on the right side and 7 on the right side. On later NPM trigger housings, both the letter and the number were moved to the same side. As expected, the trigger housing has a single strike mark for a dog leg hammer (1). Remember, early hammers leave marks in a different place on the housing rail than do later straight hammer. If you are able to inspect the housing or evaluating pictures, looks for these marks.

There is a bevel on the front of the trigger housing (1 and 2) and on the rear section including the lug (3). Later, these bevels were dropped.

The blued, type 2 dog leg hammer is marked HN. The hammer spring is 22 coils and the plunger is blued.

The trigger is marked S with no other discernible marking. It is probably an SN marked trigger made by Silver-Creek Precision Corp. of Silver Creek, N.Y. The no-hole LN marked sear is blued and made by Lyman Gun Sight Corp. of Middlefield Connecticut. The small parts are a mix of blued and parkerized. The trigger spring is a type 3 due to the bends at the end of the spring (1). This feature has only been reported on NPM carbines.

Barrel

The Underwood barrel is dated 11-42. The type 1 barrel band is unmarked with 3 weld scars. The front sight shape is ridged (option 1 on the datasheet) and is marked NN for Neidner Rifle Corp. of Dowagiac, Michigan. The second N (1) is stamped to the left of the center N. It is also a different size and font denoting use by National Postal Meter. Underwood used at least three different barrel proof mark stamp types. This particular P mark was used in 1942 up to approximately May 1943. While not definitive, a guide to barrel proof marks can be found in CCNL 384.

Slide

The slide is an E169 marked N9 with an early slide stop.

Bolt

The flat bolt is blued and made by National Postal Meter. The right lug is rounded and marked with an N. Interestingly, the left lug is marked with a sideways 8. Early NPM bolts had the letter on one side of the bolt and the number on the other. Later, both the letter and number were marked on the right lug vertically. The firing pin is a type 1 marked WN made by the Worcester Taper Pin Co. or Worcester, Mass. The extractor is a seldom seen type 2 marked IN made by International Business Machine Corporation’s Electric Writing Machine Division of Rochester, N.Y. The type 1 “V” notch extractor with cone-type plunger was a poor design and occasionally resulted in the extractor, plunger and spring (and subsequently, the ejector also) being flung from the bolt during firing. In February 1943, the Ordnance Department announced a design change to both parts milling a "flat surface" into the v-notch of the extractor and also onto the cone of the plunger, with these two flat surfaces locking the parts into the bolt more securely. The stem of the plunger was also shortened to reduce problems of breakage. Type 1 extractors in inventory of the carbine manufacturers were thus modified and called type 2 or "transition extractors". In approximately March 1943, the inventory of type 2 extractors was exhausted and new production type 3 extractors and plungers with "flat surfaces" incorporated solved the problem of bolts occasionally flying apart. For more detailed information, see CCNL 116.

DataSheet

The purpose of this article was not only to show members and original carbine, but also how parts transitioned during the war. The Carbine Collector's Club encourages all members to fill out datasheets and submit them to the club.

Great article I really enjoyed it. Haven't seen an NN front sight like that before with the other N off to the left, presumably hand stamped. Was the left N stamped in by NPM when the rifle was built, or by Neidner prior to delivery?I've got one somewhere in my parts bin, where the NN is in line with the blade, that would have been machine stamped by Neidner I'm sure.

@gotsnlb28 - Interesting...Even though the letters are lined up in the picture above, one N looks thinner font wise than the other. Any idea of the S/N or was it loose when acquired?

Bought it loose quite a few years ago. At the time I was looking for a "Z" marked sight and it was sold to me with a bunch of gunk obscuring the marking. Once I cleaned it I found what I had, and I haven't seen another one for sale loose since.

Not to be picky regarding that beautiful carbine, but the front sight N is for Niedner (note spelling). I don't know about the double NN marking.

I have a picture of the Niedner shop inside and out where these sights were made if I could figure out how to post pictures. T Shelhamer VP of the company, said a dump truck backed up to the door and dumped a lot of steel blocks from which the sights were made.

I have a picture of the Niedner shop inside and out where these sights were made if I could figure out how to post pictures. T Shelhamer VP of the company, said a dump truck backed up to the door and dumped a lot of steel blocks from which the sights were made.

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